These spooky podcasts are the best for October horror

There is no greater time to fill your earholes with horror than October. As a month that continues to be inextricably tied to our pagan origins (despite the best efforts of capitalism to sanitize it through mass-produced Halloween costumes), it's the opportune moment to return to the tradition of oral storytelling.

Hearing a spooky story does something that just watching a scary movie doesn't.

There you are, alone in your bedroom, the narrator's dulcet tones detailing the most gruesome tales of human depravity. Their descriptions may paint vivid pictures, but it's your imagination — and its endless capacity to envision horrors far more terrifying than any filmmaker — that breathes life into the horror.

So pull those covers over your eyes as much as you want. There's no hiding from these spooky podcasts that will haunt you long after the Casper Mattress ad has ended.

1. Lore

Host Aaron Mankhe sets the tone for the quiet horror of this podcast phenomenon, his somber narration intermingling with the notes of a melancholic piano. Each episode explores a compendium of the most haunting tales of human history, both real and imagined, that center around a theme. The common thread between them all usually comes back to a central question about the psychology of what scares us most. From folklore to more recent unexplained mysteries, it's the kind of listen that bleeds into your nightmares no matter what time of day you turn it on.

2. Last Podcast on the Left

In every way imaginable, Last Podcast on the Left is not for the faint of heart. Hosted by three comedians that strike the perfect balance between crass insanity (Henry Zebrowski), healthy skepticism (Ben Kissel), and thorough research (Marcus Parks), the topics range from serial killers to conspiracy theories and the occult. You might be confused about how a podcast with so many laughs could spook. But just pop on one of these multi-part heavy-hitters, and know the sensation of being straight shook to the core.

The podcast even inspired a new Amazon Original series

Image: amazon studios, lore

3. Snap Judgement Presents: Spooked

While the others on this list tend to keep the horror at a comfortable distance, NPR's Snap Judgement spook-specific podcast gets personal. Starting with the transfixing Glynn Washington's personal experiences from beyond the veil, each episode opens up to a variety of expertly told and produced tales of inexplicable happenings from real people. From haunted houses that tore a marriage apart, to a family curse that only La Bruja could lift. Are these the stories we tell ourselves to cope with the unknown? Perhaps. But it's hard to forget the raw quavers of emotion in each storyteller's voice.

4. Sword and Scale

Often, the most frightening monsters are not boogie men, ghouls, or ghosts. They are people, like you and me, hiding in plain sight. Sword and Scale stares unflinchingly into the deepest depths of human monsters, investigating crimes and horrifying phenomenons through a mixture of audio interviews, phone calls, court proceedings and narration. But be warned, because the vile acts you'll hear on this podcast can't be waved away as just imagined bumps in the night.

5. Astonishing Legends

While not always spook-filled, Astonishing Legends explores the mysteries of the world that will make you both gasp and furrow your brow. Recently, the soothing tones of co-hosts Scott Philbrook and Forest Burgess delved into the legend of the Bell Witch, the "Gateway to Hell" of Houska Castle in Prague, and the more nebulous phenomenon known as Blank-Eyed Children. With stories often presented in multiple parts, the podcast offers both the perspectives of believers, and the counter arguments from skeptics. But each one is sure to leave you with questions that make you shiver.

6. Faculty of Horror

While not your traditional campfire ghost story podcast, the horror aficionados on the Faculty of Horror are fantastic companions to hold your hand through all those great horror movies you've been watching. Their academic analysis uncovers new layers of fear you probably never thought of, no matter how many times you've watched The Babadook. If you're into spooks that both frighten and educate, Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West are your girls.

7. My Favorite Murder

Another macabre-loving female duo, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark serve as both a bottomless well of the most horrifying murders, and therapy for those concerned by their own love of murder. As two comedians, they're not in the business of rigorous research or scripted narration like most others on our list. But what they lack in planning they make up for in raw chemistry, humor, and intimacy. If you've ever felt alone in your unquenchable thirst for blood, give My Favorite Murder a listen and make two new friends.

You can plug all seven of the spook-tacular podcasts into your earholes on iTunes.

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